Tomorrow will mark three weeks since the bookcase fell on my foot. Of that time, two weeks were spent on crutches, and I'm currently using my cane. (I never thought I'd see the day when I'd consider the cane an improvement over something else, but crutches are a whole 'nother story.)

Since we're carfree, I've been getting around primarily by bus, and have been getting a first-hand look at how my fellow bus-riders respond when someone with impaired mobility gets on the bus. Does somebody yield a seat, or do I have to stand there, unsteadily clutching my cane/crutches, trying not to fall over?

I've lost track of how many junior-high and high-school kids have seen me slowly hobbling onto the bus and hopped up out of their seats, asking me "would you like to sit down?"

And the only time I've been unable to get a seat, the people who were resolutely Not Seeing Me were without question adults, well into middle age.

What's wrong with the youth of today? I dunno — what's wrong with the adults?

It does seem to be the 20-40 somethings clearly on their way to work who refuse to make any sort of eye contact or offer a seat. I never had kids offer me their seats, but when I was on crutches I was darn straight sitting near the front of the bus, and my routes have a lot of elderly people on them and the over-8yr old kids sit at the far back.

There's always something disconcerting about having an aged person barely able to hobble around offer you a seat.

And crutches suck rocks when getting on and off buses, especially those older ones.

Crutches suck rocks, period. If I ever need to use them again, the first thing I'm doing upon getting home (from the ER if an accident; from scheduling the surgery if it's a planned procedure) is ordering a set of ergonomic crutches.

As someone who has spent probably three (thankfully noncontiguous) years of my life on crutches due to lots of ankle and gout problems, I agree. Crutches are quite unwieldly. I think the worst thing is not being able to carry a simple glass of water or bowl of food. Great for arm muscles (as you note), but I usually develop weird calluses on my hands and armpits that are disturbing. That said, after a few weeks I have better balance and can do (moderately) cool things with them. And it does get people to hold doors for you.

I found that these crutch cushions helped a lot with the soreness and calluses, although they do only last a month or so. But at $11 a pair, that's worth it.

The MMC definitely looks cool! Not cheap at $90 a pop, but I don't know what normal crutches cost (they gave them to me free at the ER). Not sure about the SCBU, the behind-the-arm thing makes them look more difficult to put on or take off.